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Our second annual So You Think You Can Act was a massive success! All of the celebrities blew the audience away and completed exceeded their expectations. In addition, Emcee Lee White provided the audience with hilarious commentary, as did our judges Mariam Bernstein, Ryan Miller and Robb Paterson. Other special thanks go out to our actors, who worked with their celebrity scene partners with lots of patience and encouragement!

For most of our celebrities, this was this first foray on stage, though they all took risks and really enjoyed themselves. Every celebrity participant displayed tremendous confidence in their new found acting abilities. However, the audience felt that one celebrity in particular displayed just enough brilliance to put them over the edge. Kerri Salki of 102.3 Clear FM was ultimately announced the winner and awarded the trophy! Kerri performed expertly with her scene partner as part of Daniel MacIvor’s classic piece Marion Bridge.

Every one of our celebrity participants was memorable in their own way! Our two finalists were world champion curler Jeff Stoughton and big band and jazz legend Ron Paley.

In addition to a stellar evening full of star-studded performances, the audience also partook in a raffle featuring amazing prizes and a wine and dessert post-show reception.

We want to thank all of our amazing raffle donors, volunteers, staff, playwrights who donated their work, actors and of course, the celebrities for making this evening just as memorable – if not more so – than last year’s inaugural event. We are also grateful to the audience who enjoyed the performances but also helped to make Sarasvàti Productions’ world premiere of Jail Baby a reality through their ticket and raffle purchase.

We are over the moon at how enthusiastic and excited our audience was last night! Now we need your input – who should be in the line-up for next year? What local celebrity would you most like to see try their hand at acting? We can’t wait to start working on another amazing event for 2014.

With the even upon us it is time to give our final celebrity bio! Although the youngest of our celebrities, Desiree Scott is still a force to be wreckoned with! Having come home this summer an Olympic winner, we know that she is a fierce competitor and one that you certainly do not want to miss at So You Think You Can Act tomorrow!

Desiree Scott:

Desiree was just 8 years old when she started playing soccer for Maple Cougars, 15 when she made her debut in the Canadian youth program and 22 when she made her debut for Canada in 2010. She won a gold medal with Canada at the 2010 CONCACAF championship, won a gold medal at the XVI Pan American Games Guadalajara 2011, won a silver medal at the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament in Vancouver, finished second at the 2012 Cyprus Women’s Cup and of course she won an Olympic bronze medal at the London 2012 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament. She is also currently acting as assistant coach for her old team, the Manitoba Bison.

Will Desiree finally take home the gold? You’ll be the judge of that since the audience votes the winner! Get your tickets to SYTYCA right now at www.sarasvati.ca! There will also be tickets available at the door for the 7pm performance tomorrow, February 20th at the Gas Station Arts Centre (445 River Avenue). Tickets are $25 and include a great evening of entertainment and a wine reception. There is also a raffle with amazing prizes including tickets to RWB, PTE, WSO and Jets swag! (raffle license # MGCC 5542-RF)

With less than a week until the February 20th event, it’s time to get to know another of our fabulous celebrities. As part of our So You Think You Can Act biography series, we present a favourite Winnipeg personality, Jon Ljungberg!

Jon Ljungberg:

Jon Ljungberg has been entertaining audiences on comedy stages across North America for over 25 years including a stint at the Riviera Hotel and casino in Las Vegas. He has worked in Television and film including a role in Samuel L. Jackson’s film Reasonable Doubt shot here in Winnipeg this past December but most of you will remember Jon as the host of Breakfast Television. He’s the father of two grown children and has a passion for gardening, vintage toys and Politics.

Jon will be playing the unique and memorable role of an Elvis impersonator in Sharon Bajer’s hit play Burnin’ Love, alongside our Emerging Artist in Residence Samantha Walters. Think Jon has what it takes to rise to the top and take home the trophy? You gotta see it to believe it! Tickets to our 2nd annual fun fundraiser are available on our website (www.sarasvati.ca)!

Today we feature yet another Winnipeg celebrity who has risen to the challenge of appearing on stage for the first time! As part of our 2nd annual So You Think You Can Act fundraiser, we are delighted to be presenting an array of celebrites who wear many hats! Marcy Markusa is certainly a local favourite and you don’t want to miss seeing her play ‘dowdy’ Ivy in August: Osage County opposite Jane Burpee. Jane was paired last year with her son Ace who ran away with the glittering trophy.

Marcy Markusa:

Co-host of the weekday morning radio show on CBC Radio One, 89.3 FM / 990 AM in Winnipeg, Marcy Markusa has been with CBC since 2001. Marcy has recently won a Gabriel Award in 2012 for hosting a CBC Radio One special titled, Resolve. Before joining CBC, Marcy hosted a television show called CityScape in Winnipeg. Prior to that, she was a radio reporter and show co-host for Golden West Broadcasting in Southern Manitoba. She is committed to fighting the stigma surrounding mental illness. She is married to the love of her life Jean-Paul and they live in Winnipeg with two small dogs that run the house.

It’s time to get Marcy out of that radio booth and into the spotlight! Come see her and the rest of our celebrities, along with our zany panel of judges on February 20th! For $25 you’ll be highly entertained plus have the opportunity to join our celebrities for a wine reception. You can purchase your tickets at www.sarasvati.ca!

Jeff Stoughton is a winner. Coming off his most recent win at the National Grand Slam of Curling this past weekend, he knows how to work hard to achieve big! But will he be as comfortable on stage as he is on the ice? We are excited to see Jeff play the role of Danny in Brian Drader’s piece The Norbals as part of the 2nd annual So You Think You Can Act fundraising evening! We can’t wait for you to see Jeff in action in this completely new role!

Jeff Stoughton:

Jeff Stoughton was born and raised in Winnipeg. He has worked for Air Canada since 1985. He curls out of the Charleswood Curling Club. His curling accomplishments include: two time World Men’s Champion (1996 & 2011); World Men’s Silver Medalist (1999); three time Canadian Men’s Brier Champion (1996, 1999, 2011); nine time Manitoba Provincial Men’s Champion; four time Manitoba Provincial Mixed Champion; two time Canadian Mixed Champion (1988, 1991); two time Founder’s Trophy Champion; 2003 Player’s Champion; and 2012 Canada Cup Champion. He is married to Hali, has two sons, Riley and Cole, and a daughter, Elizabeth.

Think Jeff has what it takes? You can vote for him as part of our audience at SYTYCA 2013 when he goes head to head with other Winnipeg celebrities and personalities this February! Get your tickets now for this fun and unique event!

Now that the scenes have been picked, we are just that much closer to the highly anticipated 2nd annual So You Think You Can Actfundraiser! Last year’s event was a massive hit, and with this year’s theme Family Ties, we are certain that this year will only be bigger and better! So You Think You Can Act, otherwise known as SYTYCA, will feature some of the biggest names in Winnipeg, from sports, television, and of course, radio.

Kerri Salki:

Kerri is part of the Joe show with Kerri and Bubba on 102.3 Clear FM (mornings). After getting a degree in Psychology, she bolted to Toronto to become a famous bartender/caterer. She finally landed work doing commercials, bad TV and had a long run in a comedy show. Now safe and sound back home in Winnipeg, she is lucky to be working at a job she loves, has a hubby and a 3 year old little girl.

A Jill of All Trades, we are thrilled to see Kerri on stage this February! Even better she will be tackling complicated sister relationships in Daniel MacIvor’s dramatic and eloquent play Marion Bridge. We are looking forward to getting Kerri out of the radio booth and into the spotlight!

Tickets to see her and other celebrities battle it out are available now from our website (www.sarasvati.ca)!

An Elvis impersonator finding his long lost daughter, sibling rivalry, an absent father and a domineering mother; family conflict will be on display at the second annual So You Think You Can Act. With just over six weeks to go until our 2nd annual fundraising evening, we are pleased to announce the scenes to be featured with our stunning list of celebrities! For the uninitiated, So You Think You Can Act pairs local celebrities with theatre actors to perform short scenes, to be evaluated by a hilarious panel of judges! The winning pair will ultimately be decided by the audience – just like on the hit dancing competition show! This year’s theme is Family Ties and will feature some of the best and most prolific scenes in the Canadian canon.

Winnipeg personality Jon Ljungberg will be donning some mutton chops as an Elvis Presley impersonator in Sharon Bajer’s Burnin’ Love.

Olympic bronze medalist Desiree Scott will be playing out sibling rivalry in Norm Foster’s hilarious Maggie’s Getting Married. Foster is one of Canada’s most performed playwrights.

CBC morning host Marcy Markusa will be tackling the dowdy daughter in Tracy Letts’ August: Osage County, which was a huge hit when it ran at RMTC Warehouse last season.

For something a bit darker and edgier Jenna Khan of Breakfast Television fame will tackle George F. Walker’s Risk Everything.

A scene from local playwright Rick Chafe’s hit play The Secret Mask will be performed by Ron Paley of Ron Paley’s Big Band. The play ran to raves at PTE last year and this season was picked up for productions in Ottawa and Vancouver.

Another local playwright Brian Drader will have a scene from his piece The Norbals performed by World Champion curler Jeff Stoughton.

Kerri Salki of Clear 102.3 will be performing a scene from Daniel MacIvor’s Marion Bridge, another Canadian favourite.

So You Think You Can Act: Family Ties takes place on February 20, 2013 at the Gas Station Arts Centre. Tickets are $25 and include a wine reception. Get them while they’re hot @ www.sarasvati.ca!